Switch structure



May l5,

SWIT

Original Filed Oct. 21, 195'? Figi 31,257"- gij."

WHEELER 3,035,131

CH STRUCTURE INVENTOR ATTORNEY7 United States Patent Oiiice 3,035,131Patented May 15, 1962 3,635,131 SWITCH STRUCTURE James E. Wheeler, 2256Kent Blvd. NE., Grand Rapids, Mich.

Original application Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,404, now Patent No.2,964,144, dated Dec. 13, 1960. Divided and this application Feb. 15,1960, Ser. No. 8,698

8 Claims. (Cl. 20G-61.41)

This invention relates to switching systems and more particularly toswitch structure for use in interrupting the flow of current to a primemover which controls the spatial position of a movable component. Thisapplication is a division of my application Serial No. 691,404, tiled onOctober 21, 1957, and entitled Airplane hangar, now Patent #2,964,144.

Accordingly therefore, a primary object of this invention is to discloseswitching means for selectively interrupting the flow of current to aprime mover.

Another object of this invention is to teach structure for selectivelycontrolling current iiow in correlation with the spatial position of amovable component.

A further object of the present invention is to provide switching meansfor selectively regulating the period during which electrical current isallowed to flow in a given circuit.

' These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent by referring to the accompanying detailed descriptionand drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 illustrates a sectional View of the switch mechanism providedby the invention.

v FIGURE 2 shows a sectional View of the switch shown in FIGURE 1 takenalong the lines 2 2 in FIGURE 1.

Turning now to the drawings, reference will be made FIGURE 1 in whichthere is provided an illustration of the structural details of thepositioning switch provided by lthe present invention. It will beappreciated in connection with Ithis figure that electric current may becaused to energize an electric power unit (not shown) by means ofconventional manually operable switching circuitry. The electric powerunit may comprise a prime mover which causes a rotatable oor 10 for acircular aircraft hanger or like structure to revolve, and the controlcurrent for interrupting energization of power unit is regulated by theswitch structure shown in FIGURE 1 and FIGURE 2. The rotatable iioor 10revolves to a position in which the flow of current is automaticallyinterrupted by the invention with any chosen aircraft positioned forready egress or ingress. The automatic interruption of the electriccurrent is accomplished by the positioning switch shown in FIGURE l.This switch includes a metallic housing 50 which may be embeded in theapproach ramp to the hanger or like structure. The housing 50 isequipped with a cover plate 51 which is mounted ush with the grade levelof the approach ramp by means of suitable screws 52. Within the interiorof the housing 50, there is provided a pair of actuating rods 53 and 54,respectively. Each of the rods 53, 54 is provided with a roller memberin ythe outermost extremity thereof. Thus, the roller 55 is mounted inthe rod S3 and the roller 56 is mounted in the rod 54.

The rod 53 is mounted for slidable movement with respect to the verticalend wall of the housing 50. In addition, the rod 53 is resilientlybiased by means of a compression spring 57 which is located between afixed partition plate 58 and an annular shoulder 59 which is secured tothe rod 53. The rod 53 is movably secured to the rod 54 by means of theswivel element 60.

In order to form one contact of the make and break portion of thepositioning switch, there is provided an annular metallic disc 61 whichis securely affixed to the rod 53. The disc 61 is, of course, insulatedfrom the rod 53 by suitable means, and is provided with a suitableelectrical conductor (not shown) which is secured theretoby means ofterminal screw 61A. The opposite contact of the make and break portiontakes the form of a resilient spring contact 62 which is also providedwith a suitable conductor (not shown). It will be immediately obviousthat linear movement by the rod 53 can make or break the conductivecontact between the disc 61, and the spring contact 62.. Thus, if thelinear movement of the rod 53 can be caused to occur when the rotatablefloor reaches a certain predetermined position, the movement of thefloor and the airplanes thereon can be correlated with respect to theposition of the closure for the hangar.

This linear movement of rod 53 is effected by engagement with one of thedeflecting members 63, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 2. It will beappreciated from an inspection of FIGURE 2 that when one of thedeflecting members 63 is rotated `far enough, it is able to deliect theroller 55 and cause a separation between the disc 61 and the springcontact 62. It should be appreciated in this connection that theradially spaced deilecting members 63 may be used when a number ofaircraft are housed within a structure having a rotatable iloor.

For example, it is possible to house live aircraft within such a hangarstructure. Under these circumstances, the automatic interruption ofenergizing current for drive unit 31 is effected by the rod 54 and itsassociated cornponents. In order to accomplish tive aircraft operation,the cover plate 51 may be removed from the metallic housing 50. Then, asuitable elongated member is inserted through the hole 64 located in tab65 which cornprises a llattened extension of the rod 53. When the tab 65has been rearwardly retracted in order to compress the spring 57, it isrotated in order to lock the rod 53 in retracted position. It should beappreciated that the tab 65 is normally centered for movement within anelongated slot 66 which is provided in the fixed partition plate 58A.

After the actuating rod 53 has been retracted, the lower actuating rod54 is readied for operation. This is accomplished by rotating tab 67 onrod 54 through 90, in order to position the rod 54 for slidablemovement. This action has the effect of releasing rod 54 from itsretracted position, and places roller 56 in position for actuation byany one of the deiiecting members 68. The deecting members 68 areradially spaced around the outer rim of .the oor 1i), and are verticallyspaced somewhat below the earlier mentioned set of deflecting members63. It will be observed in FIGURE l that the actuating rod 54 isequipped with a compression spring 69 which is positioned between thefixed partition plate 58 and an annular shoulder 70 located on the rod54. The make and break portion of the positioning switch in thisinstance again takes the form of two contacts. One of these contacts isformed by the annular metallic disc 71 which is secured upon andinsulated from the rod 54. The opposite contact is, of course, thespring contact 62.

During the intervals when five aircraft are housed within the structure,as explained immediately above, rotation of the licor 10 may beinitiated by eiiecting a llow of electric current to a conventionalpower unit or prime mover. Then, rotation of the oor 10 continues untilone of the deecting members 68 engages the roller 56 mounted in the endof rod 54. This, of course, has the eliect of displacing the annularmetallic disc 71 on rod 54 ont of engagement with the resilient springcontact 62. As a result, the ow of current to the drive unit isselectively interrupted when any or each of the aircraft is centrallypositioned for ingress or egress with respect to the closure for thehangar structure.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withaircraft housing structures, it will be appreciated that the switchingmechanism may be employed equally well in connection with many otherapplications, and that such use would be deemed to fall Within thepurview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

l. ln a switch mechanism for selectively interrupting a flow of electriccurrent by breaking an electrical contact in correlation with thespatial position of a member driven by a power unit, housing means, rodmeans disposed for slidable motion with in said housing means, andprojection means on said driven member for contacting said rod meanswhen said member assumes a predetermined spatial position to impartslidable motion to said rod means and thereby break said electricalcontact.

2. In a switch mechanism for selectively interrupting a flow of electriccurrent by breaking an electrical contact in correlation with thespatial position of a member driven by a power unit, housing means, rodmeans disposed for slidable motion Within said housing means, resilientbiasing means disposed to urge said rod means toward a position againstsaid member, and projection means on said mem-ber for contacting saidrod means when said member assumes a predetermined spatial position tomove said rod means in a direction opposite that in which it is urged bysaid biasing means and thereby break said electrical contact.

3. In a switch mechanism for selectively interrupting a flow of electriccurrent by breaking an electrical contact in correlation with thespatial position of a member driven by a power unit, housing means, rodmeans disposed for slidable motion within said housing means, projectionmeans on said member for contacting said rod means when said memberassumes a predetermined spatial position to impart slidable motion tosaid rod means and thereby break said electrical contact, and perforatedtab means carried by said rod means on its end remote from said memberfor selectively retaining said rod means in a position out of Contactwith said member.

4. In a multi-circuit positioning switch for interrupting the supply ofcurrent to a drive means, housing means, a pair of resiliently biasedactuator rods slidably disposed within said housing means, said rodsincluding tab means for selectively locking one or the other thereof ininoperative position, a movable member driven by said drive means, saidmovable member defining at least one projection adapted to contact eachof said actuator rods when said movable member assumes a predeterminedspatial position and thereby impart slidable motion to the contactedactuator rod and condition responsive contact means operativelyassociated with each of said rods for effecting said interruption ofsaid current when said slidable motion is imparted to the contacted rodby said projection means.

5. In a multi-circuit positioning switch for interrupting the supply ofcurrent to a drive means, a plurality of resiliently biased selectivelyretractable rod means, swivel means interconnecting said rod means, amovable member driven by said drive means, said movable member defininga plurality of projections, each adapted to contact one of saidretractable rod -means when said movable member is in a predeterminedspatial position and thereby impart slidable ymotion to the contactedretractable rod means, and contact means mounted upon said rod means tobreak the particular circuit governed by the position of said contactedretractable rod means. Y

6. In a switch mechanism for selectively opening an electrical circuitin correlation with the spatial position of a movable member having asurface adapted to move past a sensing location, a rod normally adaptedto contact said surface, electrical contact means carried by said rodfor completing said electrical circuit, projection means located on apredetermined portion of said surface adapted to contact said rod whensaid movable member assumes a position in which said predeterminedportion of said surface is adjacent said rod and move said rod away fromsaid surface, thereby causing said electrical contact means to open saidelectrical circuit.

7. In a switch mechanism for selectively opening an electrical circuitin correlation with the angular position of `a rotatable member, rodmeans normally adapted to contact a surface of said rotatable member,electrical contact means carried by said rod means for completing saidelectrical circuit, projection means located on a predetermined portionof said surface adapted to contact said rod means when said rotatablemember assumes a predetermined angular position in which saidpredetermined portion of said surface is adjacent said rod means andmove said rod means away from said surface, thereby causing saidelectrical contact means to open said electrical circuit 8. A switchmechanism according to claim 7 wherein said rotatable member comprises'acircular tloor of an aircraft hangar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,548,372 Hopagarten; Apr. 1o, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,035, 131 May 15, 1962 James E.Wheeler It is here'y certified that error appears in the above numberedpatent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should readas corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 7, for "Ser, No.8,698" read Ser. No. 8,689

Signed and sealed this 28th day of August 1962.

(SEAL) Attest:

ESTON G. JOHNSON DAVID L. LADD Attesting Officer l Commissioner ofPatents

